The Indra Washing Machine Promise a Better Life for the Ghobi in India

Having your clothes laundered in India just got easier, thanks to the Indra washing machine. In India, many women rely heavily on the services of the Dhobi ghat, which translates roughly to washer men. The Dhobi are favored by citizens, because their physical labor is much cheaper than the electricity it takes to run a washing machine. Most Dhobi see to the cleanliness of towels, bed sheet and trousers manually. The fabrics are then freshly pressed and returned to the owner a week later when the Dhobi return for the next bundle.

Laundering by hand can be a grueling back-breaking task. To save the Dhobi ghat a little strain, the Indra washing machine, by designer Elodie Delassus, was specifically created with the woes of the Dhobi in mind. The low-tech design requires little to no electricity. Embers in the base of the machine heat the water and the spinner is pedal operated. The machine can hold up to 12kg of clothes at a time, making it easier for the Dhobi to process bigger loads more efficiently.